Weight Loss Surgery Results & Success in Studio City, CA

Maximizing Your Weight Loss Potential

Imagine losing up to 90 percent of your excess weight and seeing many, if not all, of your obesity-related health problems resolved. Let yourself fantasize about how differently people will treat you and, most importantly, envision how differently you will feel about yourself. Many people do exactly this before they choose bariatric surgery for weight loss. What many don't understand, however, is the time, energy and effort required to achieve significant weight loss surgery results.

Preparing yourself for the significant changes in your body that will occur, as well as developing a realistic, long-term approach to diet and exercise that sets you up for success, are important parts of your bariatric surgery journey. To schedule a consultation with a healthcare practitioner in Studio City who can discuss your weight loss surgery options, as well as strategies to maintain weight loss long-term, call (213) 814-0504 or contact Stephanie Wolff online.

Your Weight Loss Surgery Options

Bariatric surgery helps you to lose a significant amount of weight by limiting the amount of food your stomach can withstand or by reducing the amount of calories absorbed by your body. The most commonly performed weight loss surgeries are:

What to Expect After Bariatric Surgery

Depending on the type of surgery you choose—and whether your surgeon selects to do open or laparoscopic surgery—you can expect full physical recovery in 1-6 weeks. You may experience side effects after surgery including bleeding, blood clots and leakage from the site of the surgical incisions. Digestive complaints like diarrhea are also likely.

Depending on the recommendations for your specific procedure, you should begin to move around as quickly as recommended to avoid blood clots and other complications. Your healthcare provider will help you develop an exercise program that is appropriate and healthy for you. As you lose weight and build strength, the design of your exercise program will need to evolve with you.

Your after weight loss surgery diet will likely begin with liquids only, then move to a soft diet such as soups, broths, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. It may take up to several weeks before you can transition to solid foods. Depending on your type of bariatric surgery, your food and beverage options will vary. It is important that you follow the dietary guidelines your healthcare provider outlines for you. You will find that you cannot eat as much as you used to and it will be crucial to limit yourself to small meals and chew food thoroughly to minimize digestive complaints.

The success rate of bariatric surgery is high, if you measure success by weight loss. Everyone loses weight. The question is: how much weight? While the outliers might range from 25-90 percent, most patients lose 60-80 percent of their excess body weight (an average of over 100 pounds). It generally takes up to two years for most of the weight to come off. It will also take some time to register changes such as digestion issues, sagging skin and possible weight regain.

Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

Surgical procedures for weight loss can accomplish a wide array of outcomes and benefits. Weight loss, of course, is the number one reason people choose to undergo bariatric procedures. However, one of the most important benefits to your overall health and longevity is the significant improvement (and sometimes cure) seen in many obesity-related disease processes, including:

Type 2 diabetes

High blood pressure

Metabolic syndrome

High cholesterol

Sleep apnea and other sleep disturbances

Acid reflux or GERD

Urinary incontinence

PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and other liver conditions

Heart disease and arteriosclerosis

Kidney disease

Chronic venous insufficiency

Depression and other psychological issues related to weight

Joint problems, orthopedic issues and conditions like arthritis also improve due to decreased pressure on joints as weight improves.

Life After Weight Loss Surgery: Maintain Your Results

As many as 50 percent of people will regain 5 percent of their weight within two years after weight loss surgery. The statistics vary greatly after that—especially with the varying bariatric surgery options and other factors.

There are several keys to maintaining weight loss after bariatric surgery:

Diet

To set yourself up for success after bariatric surgery, you will need to put in work before surgery is performed. Curbing bad habits prior to surgery will help you maintain healthier habits after surgery. Binge eating, alcohol and drug habits and poor food choices should all be addressed ahead of time. Incorporating more of the healthy foods that will become staples in your diet after your surgery into your diet prior to surgery will be important.

After surgery, maintaining the post bariatric diet program designed by your weight loss team is the most important factor that will determine the success of your surgical procedure—not simply for weight loss but for overall health. Your program will fit your lifestyle yet strive to be mindful of portions, calories and other critical nutritional considerations. Your healthcare provider may recommend ongoing nutritional counseling to keep you motivated and on track.

Exercise

Your physical activity will evolve with you as your health improves and weight loss grows. You may want to consider a personal trainer to help you regain mobility and strength after your surgery. Regular physical activity will help you maintain your weight loss after bariatric surgery, helping you burn fat more efficiently.

Support

Support groups make the highest statistical difference when trying to maintain weight loss after surgery. Yes, the support of your weight loss surgery team, your friends and your family are important, but people who utilize support groups lose more weight than people who don't. Furthermore, research has shown that the higher the number of support groups you attend, the more weight you will lose.

Sleep

Weight loss surgery often corrects sleep disturbances like sleep apnea. Sleep and weight loss are connected because of the impact of sleep on many of the hormones that regulate weight. Getting enough sleep and regular sleep habits is one often-ignored key to maintaining weight loss.

Education

Above all else, make sure to attend your follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider and follow his/her advice closely. A bariatric surgeon is an expert in reversing obesity and will be a key person if your life after your procedure.

If you are faced with weight gain that is limiting the quality of your life, you are not without options. Request more information about weight loss surgery and what you can expect from your life after weight loss. Call (213) 814-0504 or contact Stephanie Wolff online.